Make the most of those post-holiday sales! / Laurence Dutton/Getty Images

Written by

Francesca Castagnoli

Chances are you’ve got a stack of gift cards and a few items to return this week. But if the frenzy for post-holiday sales makes you cringe, no fear. We’ve gathered tips to maximize your time and money.

Plan ahead.

Even if you’re suffering from retail promotion fatigue, pay attention to those announcements, says Tom Julian, a retail consultant in New York City. Use them to compare who is offering the most savings and flag specific days or hours when products you want will be on sale. Check out your mall website, which may run additional promotions and coupons.

Buy at the right time.

Stores are now, for a short time, putting hot items for spring on sale. “It’s an ideal way to score deals on clothes you’ll need next season — especially high-end designer products that may normally be beyond your budget,” Julian says. Just hold off on buying electronics like TVs — you’ll get better deals with February’s Super Bowl sales.

Enlist help.

Overwhelmed? Get in touch with a store’s personal shopper. “They are already being paid, so you don’t need to feel an obligation to spend,” Julian says. They’ll wade through the disarray of goods so you don’t have to.